The airport in Krabi began operations way back in 1999, and facilitates the city of Krabi along with many adjoining islands like Koh Lanta, Koh Ngai, and Koh Lipe. Moreover, it is the main gateway to the beaches of Ao Nang, Koh Lanta, and Railay. Located on the main highway route four this small airspace is getting busier each day due to the booming tourism industry of Thailand. Tourist attractions include national parks like Koh Lanta and Mu Koh Phi National Park, snorkelling, scuba diving, bird watching, and beach resorts.
Airport Code: IATA - KBV, ICAO - VTSG
Krabi Airport - Terminal 1
Terminal 1 takes care mainly of the international transits with some rare instances of handling domestic passengers. There are two floors in the Terminal 1 building. The upper one handles the departures while the lower one manages the arrivals. The taxi services will drop you at the entry gate of the departure floor. While if you step in with the help of a bus or private car, then you will have to enter into the lower level (arrival floor). There is a pair of escalators and lifts to raise you on the upper floor (departure floor).
Krabi Airport - Terminal 2
Services and facilities: There is a well-maintained food shop known as Yummy Square. Here you can get some chicken items along with other regular snacks. Delicatessen and Doi Chang coffee shops are great for boosting up your energy levels. Unlike Terminal 1 there are three ATMs and an exchange booth. Some souvenir shops are also present on the Floor.
Operating Airlines: Azur Air, Bangkok Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Finnair, Korean Air, New Gen Airways, Nok Air, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Pegas Fly, Qatar Airways, Royal Flight, Scoot, Shanghai Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Spring Airlines, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, Thai Smile, Thai Vietjet Air
Distance and Transport
All the taxi services for Krabi Airport is pre-paid. You will have to take a coupon from the taxi counters inside the terminal buildings before booking the taxi. Recently some unofficial taxi drivers are lurking around the airport which is metered. Though the meters will generally not be working for some vague reason and you will have to pay a fixed rate, still it is inevitable that you will get a better bet.
Rates for some of the most common places in Krabi:2. Bus Services
- Krabi Town: 400 - 600 THB
- Klong Muang: 700 - 1100 THB
- Ao Nang: 650 - 1000 THB
- Ao Thalane: 950 - 1250 THB
- Tubkaek: 850 - 1200 THB
- Koh Lanta: 25000 - 3500 THB
The only official bus service will take you to Ao Nang and Krabi City Center with ticket prices varying from 100-150 THB. It operates for twelve hours from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. It is a great option if you are not carrying too many luggage.
3. Rental Cars
You also have the option to rent a car from companies like Sixt, National, Budget, Hertz, and Alamo. You will need a driving license with a permit to drive internationally. Bookings can be made at the official counters located at both the terminals or online. Online booking has the advantage of cheaper rates.
4. Pre-paid Airport Transfers
There are some pre-paid taxi services operated by individual firms. You can either book it online or contact your hotel management to rent one. The prices will be a bit on the higher side, but it gets the job done without any hassle.
In spite of being such a small airport in Krabi, it manages more than three million people annually. There are also plans to upgrade the terminals for handling the ever-increasing crowd. The service in the airspace is satisfactory and generally, there are no hassles.